Approximately 2.3 million people are living with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), being coinfected with HCV is about 6%, but good data is lacking for many countries. Join me as I blog over a 16 week period before, during and after my 12 week hepatitis C treatment and care experience as new treatments become available through the NHS. HIV and HCV are both blood-borne viruses that are transmitted in similar ways. HCV is a heartier virus that can live longer on surfaces and in equipment used to inject drugs, while HIV is more easily transmitted through sex. Worldwide there are approximately 37 million people living with HIV and 115 million people with antibodies to hepatitis C, indicating either past or present infection. It is well known that many people are co-infected with both viruses. As well as being highly effective with cure rates of more than 90%, new interferon-free treatments are almost as effective in patients with HIV and relatively easy to give with ART.
“NHS England announced last summer the single biggest new multi-million-pound treatment investment of the year by the NHS would be in hepatitis C�
The funding has allowed for new treatments to be rolled out with the real
hope for hepatitis C patients. In most cases patients can be effectively cured of the virus and these drugs are easier to take when compared with the older treatments. Nearly 5,000 individuals with cirrhosis of the liver, caused by chronic hepatitis C, have been treated by the NHS. By 2016 to 2017 the NHS is committed to doubling the number of patients treated to 10,000. The partnership between clinical leadership and healthcare providers, which was established within a short space of time, has had remarkable and life changing advances within the healthcare systems. However the NHS will face some real budgetary challenges due to the number of patients and the very high aggregate cost of the treatments involved. The NHS is hoping the Pharmaceutical companies will also play their part by making their drugs more affordable. NHS also acknowledges, that people living with chronic hepatitis C will be more concerned with how soon they will